Grigory Melkonyants is a human rights activist, a public figure and lawyer. He is the co-chairman of the movement in defense of voters' rights “Golos”, a member of the Human Rights Council of Russia, and a member of the organizing committee of the All-Russian Civil Forum.

Melkonyants has been involved in election observation for more than 20 years.

After the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Golos movement continued to prepare reports on regional elections and methodological recommendations for members of election commissions and observers, despite pressure from the authorities. Melkonyants took a principled position and did not leave Russia, continuing his socially useful activities on its territory.